Huntly

Huntly is set in the heart of Strathbogie, a hilly countryside of farming and forestry. This busy market town was for long the seat of the house of Gordon, whose ancestral home stands on the banks of the Deveron.

Gay Gordons

This powerful family became the leaders of the Catholic cause in the Counter Reformation struggles. Bruce originally granted these forfeited lands to Adam Gordon from Berwickshire. Successive Gordons built a stone tower, then a more commodious seat. George 4th Earl rebuilt a palace having razed to the cellars the previous construction. Active in the defence of his religion, he died at the Battle of Corrichie when he took up arms against Mary, Queen of Scots' royal troops. His son was beheaded in Aberdeen. His grandson, the 6th Earl and 1st Marquess, made the architectural embellishments to the castle. Following the Civil War, the Duke moved to Fochabers.

Huntly Academy

Better known as the Gordon Schools, the establishment was founded in 1839-41 in memory of the 5th Duke of Gordon. The building by Archibald Simpson marks the site of the outer gatehouse of the castle. Continue down the tree-shaded avenue to the castle ruins.

Huntly Castle

Strategically set commanding the confluence of the River Bogie and River Deveron. the ruins of Huntly Castle are famous for the elaborate heraldic carvings. The original motte and bailey structure was superseded by a 15th Century keep, itself abandoned in favour of a more spacious palace on the south side. Z-plan in layout, it has a massive drum and staircase towers at diametrically opposite ends of the oblong block. The extant building was built between 1551 and 1554 on an older basement. The castle was blown up in 1594 and it was during the rebuilding of the early 17th Century that the then Marquess embellished the upper parts. Before entering examine the south front with its three oriel windows and inscribed friezes.

As one moves round to the courtyard, the motte is on the left while the palace and other ruins are sited on the bailey to the right. Once inside the cobbled courtyard make for the entrance doorway in the staircase tower. Above the doorway is a magnificent piece of heraldic sculpture. Inside, note the equally finely carved fireplaces of the principal rooms. One has medallion portraits of the embellishing Marquess and his wife, the second has their arms surmounted by the royal arms of the United Kingdom and is dated 1606, only three years after the Union.

Leith Hall

For over 300 years Leith Hall was the home of the Leith family, later Leith-Hays. Originally the family is thought to have come to the British Isles with William the Conqueror, becoming shipowners at Leith, the port of Edinburgh, provosts of Aberdeen, and finally lairds at Leith Hall. The evolution of the house reflects the history of the family as is common with many Scottish landowning families. The original tower house built in 1650 is now the north wing. The house was extended by subsequent generations.

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